The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-30
TRIBUTES TO MAJOR GORDON
Eulogies on His Life and Character by
His Professional Associates.
The Memorial Adopted by the Members of the
Bar-Arrangements for the Funeral
To BE Held This Morning.

A meeting of the bar was held in tie United
States Court room, yesterday afternoon at 3
o'clock, to take action regarding the death of
Maj Jonathan w. Gordon, for over thirty-five
years a member of the association There were
about seyenty-fv persons present Judge
Woods presided, and Charles Martindale acted
as secretary. On motion of Judge Byron X.
Elliott, the following committee to prepare a
suitable memorial WAS appointed, consisting of
Byron K. Elliott. Albert 6. Porter, Charles L.
Holstein, John B. Elan and S. NJ. Sheppard.
Judge Elliot spoke of hs long acquaintance
with the deceased, and gave glowing eulogy of
his genius. Judge Turpe gave an estimate OF
his worth as a LAWYER, and the methods by
which he achieved success. Judge Ward spoke
of his early acquaintance with Major Gordon
and the assistance that he was SO ready to give
TO young and struggling attorneys. w. p Fish
back called TO mind his first meeting with
Major Gordon, thirty years ago. He said
that the Major whom nobody ever thought
of as an old man, had outlived all
but two or three of the members of the
Indianapolis bar of that day-Judge Morrison.
Judge David Mcdonald. Judge Majors, Caleb B.
Smith. Horatie G. Newcomb. Walter March,
Governor Wallace, Lucian Barbour, the Wal
poles, Thomas and Robert, Martin NJ. Ray
Thomas A. Hendricks, Hugh O'Neal, Hall, Nc
kenzie, Gregg. Rowland. Chapman, Richard j.
RYAN, Oliver Torbet. Ketcham, Coffin, Oliver Fl.
Smith. Dumont. Perkins, Voss Sims Colay,
Quarles and James N. Sweetser all preceded
him. He said that Major Gordon was about the
last Of tha oil eli ~ hat Hae
nearly faded out
Elk Governor Porter spoke of the deceased as
he knew him whom. as fellow students, they at
tended Hanover College, and told how Major
Oordon afterwards, In order 10 attend medical
lectures, walked all the way from Ripley county
to Chicago, and having concluded his medical
course there. walked all the way back again.
General Harrison spoke OF his acquaintance
with Major Gordon as 1t began in 1855 when he,
the speaker, was partner of William Wallace,
and they occupied front room in the old Tenn
perance Hall Building, the News Office.
General Coburn and Judge Taylor occupied
on the other side. He spoke of the
deceaseds high qualities a lawyer and disa-
greed with previous speaker that his chief
fault, and that which prevented him from being
the greatest lawyer of Indiana was lack of con-
centration. General Harrison held it to be
rather a lack of persistence: that, though he had
abundance of material, his mind became at
tracted in another direction and he would leave
n euperSLrQcLure reared
broad and firm foundation, unfinished and in
complete.
The memorial read by Ex-Governor Porter
was adopted 1t was as follows:
We assembled to express our feeling of respect
and affection for an honored member of our profess
sion. whose long life of labor without remission and
without stint has closed and who has passed TO
his rest. Maj Jonathan w Gordon the of
poor man, who, with scarcely any knowledge of
books knew their value, who early turned the
mind of his to them and kndled in his breast the
flame of an honorable ambition. The boy lived
in community where education rare, but
where few intelligent and shining men lived whose
attention was early directed to him boy of
usual intelligence and ambition They elped him to
books and they counseled him wisely, and he repaid
them with reverence and affection which never
weakened or RENTED His application to study was
severe from his boyhood; Re had an enormous capac-
ity for work, and memory of astonishing reten-
tveness With these helps and an enthusiasm which
tainnent of objects which he desired he stored
his mind with great and varied knowledge. After
medical profession and, having entered upon the
practice of that profession. he achieved But
he united within him strong powers of reasoning.
rich imagination, and memory that yielded up its
stores to him readily and. from oyhood he had
extraordinary admiration for oratory. He early felt
within himself the fervor of the orator and,
as his faculties ripened and he had the op-
portunity to match himself with other men, he
resolved to enter upon field where his conscious
powers speaker might have free play. He there
fore adopted the profession of law. With what wis
dom he chose his profession his eminent success
has demonstrated he not satisfied to know
what the law but he desired always to know why
it and he traced its history with laborious
assduity. AS advocate he was strong and fervent
and he achieved before juries many signal trumphs
His knowledge of the law. whether civil criminal
was broad and accurate, and his knowledge Of GRIM
inal law preernent. Some of his forensic argyll
ments questions of purely legal character will
long be preserved account of logical force their
great dept of research and the variety of their learn
ing.
His literary attainments were large and varied and
his literary taste refined and he wrote much in prose
and verse not relating to his profession which won
much admiration.
He held various responsible Offices military and
civil and he discharged the duties of each with faith
fulness and ability.
Major Gordon extremely tend er and broad in
his sympathies and warm in his friendships He was
honorable and manly in the practice of his profession
and in his intercourse with his fellow His kind
to young men, whether in out Of his profession
was proverbia His memory will be long and tender.
ly preserved by his feew-members at the bar and by
hosts of those who, in personal intercourse. were
obliged by acts of kindness touched By the
tenderness and warmth of his social nature.
The committee resolutions was appointed
TO carry out the suggestions of the resolutions
and present copies thereof to the family and the
different tribunals.
The funeral will take place this morning, at 10
General Manson, of Charlottesville; Congress.
man Browne of Winchester; Hon. Cyrus Nc
Mutt Terre Haute; Ex-Governor A G. Porter,
Hon. E. 3. Sellers. Hon. ". A. Woods, Gen
George F. McGinnis and Gen. Fred Kuefsr will
act pail hearers The services will be con-
Quoted by Dr. Mcleod and Elder Jameson, and
W.